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Sunday, April 30, 2006
Ind. Law - New scrapyard regulations passed by South Bend Common Council
Jamie Loo of the South Bend Tribune reports:
SOUTH BEND -- In an attempt to stop rampant metal theft, including most recently the theft of city manhole covers, the Common Council passed a new scrap metal ordinance Thursday evening.Since the legislation's introduction in February, scrap yard owners and residents have said they were worried too many regulations would drive scrap sellers out of South Bend and hurt local businesses. The council's Health and Public Safety committee discussed the issue during four meetings and attempted to address some of the concerns in an amended ordinance which passed unanimously.
The newly passed ordinance requires scrap-metal dealers to have their license applications screened by the South Bend Police Department. SBPD would make a formal recommendation to the city controller for the license. The Common Council would also have to approve the license.
Scrap yards are required to report all purchases within 24 hours including the names of sellers. The sellers would be required to present photo identification, thumbprint impressions, motor vehicle license numbers and vehicle descriptions. The address of where the metal was obtained is also required on the form.
The businesses are also restricted from purchasing or receiving property from minors with the exception of rags, paper, aluminum beverage cans or tin cans. Records are not required for aluminum or tin cans. * * *
At one of the meetings council members challenged scrapyard owners to find solutions in the fight against scrap metal theft. Mike Morris, general manager of Industrial Disposal & Recycling, presented a "Business Watch" program where SBPD could use phone, e-mail or fax communication to alert scrapyard owners of reported scrap theft. Scrapyard owners could then be on the lookout for the stolen scrap and help police efforts.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on April 30, 2006 09:52 AM
Posted to Indiana Law